On Saturday, the Knights opened their campaign with a 4-wicket defeat, according to the DLS method, to the North West Dragons at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom.

It was a game that could have gone either way, but the Dragons were just better in the key moments.

The Knights batted first in Potchefstroom and were bowled out for 257 runs in 47.5 overs, with Jacques Snyman scoring 85 off 77 balls with five fours and three sixes, while Patrick Botha scored 40, and Dominic Hendricks scored 29 on his debut for the team.

Jacques Snyman. Photo: Morgan Piek

Ruan de Swart was the pick of the Dragons’ bowlers with 3/44 in 7.5 overs, Kerwin Mungroo took 2/35, while the former Knights opening batter took 2/39.

In reply, Janneman Malan scored 90 off 118 balls, and Kleinveldt scored 42 off 37 as the Dragons chased down the target in 46.5 overs. Aaron Phangiso took 2/42 as the Knights’ best bowler, while Johan van Dyk took 2/53 in 6 overs.

Despite the defeat, the Knights’ captain, Dane Piedt, told OFM Sport that overall, he could not fault his team. “For sure, it’s just to actually get up there and try to create some momentum in this competition,” said Piedt.

“That’s what we’re after at the end of the day, so trying to play our best cricket, trying to play our best ball, trying to play our best shot – that’s the basic part of it. But I was happy with the boys’ efforts; I think they were really switched on and trying to get better. But yeah, I guess that’s the situation we find ourselves in.”

In the other first-round games, the Lions beat Western Province by 40 runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Boland beat the Titans by 5 runs at Boland Park in Paarl, and the Warriors beat the Dolphins by 126 runs at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.

Wednesday’s match at the Mangaung Oval is scheduled to start at 13:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg/mvh